Social messaging platform Twitter has opened its self-serve advertising platform for small and medium-sized businesses in the UK, Ireland and Canada.

Twitter advertising lets businesses amplify their presence on the platform, which is used by 230m people on a daily basis.

The service has been used by thousands of businesses in the US who sought to connect with people in their local communities and beyond.

Using the service firms can used Promoted Accounts to build an active community of followers who can advocate or influence their business.

Promoted Tweets enable businesses to engage with users who are not yet following them by using a range of targeting options.

“You’re in control of your ads, the audience you want to reach, and of course your budget,” explained Twitter product manager Ravi Narasimhan.

“Best of all, you will only be charged when people follow your Promoted Account or retweet, reply, favorite or click on your Promoted Tweets. You are never charged for your organic Twitter activity,” he said.